Archive for April, 2010

Be sure you check out all our NEW! Products-released today! CLICK HERE! Each release just gets better and better!

Last month when we added the addition of the entire design team sharing their card creations with you, as a group, it was a hit. You all seemed to really enjoy having a day dedicated to how all these sets can be used for your card creations as well!

So if you all want to continue to have a day dedicated to *just* cards, then I am happy to make this part of our release projects!

Now today I thought it would be a great opportunity to show you what you can do (for starters!) using the Lunch Box Love Notes & Additions, with the Lunch Box Love Notes Cut File (also available in PDF :D). I’ve talked about how this set is perfect for making little love notes to tuck away in someones lunch bag, in a briefcase, maybe a jacket pocket…..even stick them under the pillow!

We can all use a little “love note” of encouragement from time to time.

These “love notes” don’t have to be time consuming, just serve their purpose of making someone know you are thinking of them, and you love them.

So let’s start with a VERY simple set of “love notes” that you can EASILY reproduce!

First: let me say that this note card is beyond FAB! I love it. It’s the perfect size, and the tuck tab means NO envy needed!

Second: Can you say 5 minutes? Sometimes simple is best.

YUP! All 4 (after my Cricut cut them out) done in under 5 minutes!

I first printed my Elementary patterned paper from the Sensational Staples collection, and cut them to fit my love notes.

Then I simply stamped the elements from the Lunch Box Love Notes & Additons set in black ink, onto white cardstock (already cut into circles, with black mat layers) and assembled. A little glitter and before you knew it-DONE!

Here is the Just a note to say…..

I stamped the XOXO on the paper (its another sentiment in the set)

Then on the inside I stamped

I’m so proud of you!

How super sweet and simple is that? Totally gender and age neutral!!

Now what about this one?

I love that the Oreo cookie says “smart cookie” right on it! I really thought it was a great addition to the set.

Now on the inside I had several options I could have chosen, given my image, but I chose

as sweet as you are!

I love it!

Inside the You’re a star one reads: you are so special

Then inside the My Lil Cupcake reads: Packed with Love (that a great one when you send a special treat (like a homemade cupcake!! for a snack)

OK now how about trying an actual card? (I have so much more to share!)

For A Special Teacher

I adore this!

I LOVE red, black and green together! ESPECIALLY for school theme. I know its totally predictable, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Sadly you cannot see that it is cut out and on dimensionals, or that it has glitter on the flowers. SUPER CUTE! I love it. I adored the little juice box stamped next to it too.

I love having the ability to interchange my lunchbox fronts to suit ANY occasion. It can also be a briefcase. You can add OTHER images that fit inside that open rectangle too! You aren’t limited by just the lunchbox fronts you see in the set! You can obviously use ANY of the single images in there too, but feel free to mix it up with some other sets! That goes for sentiments as well.

The is the perfect flat top/bottom gift box, with a little pucker to it!

( I used the “ladybug” wing prints for my large tupil petals!)

This is a modern spin on the ever popular “pillow box”. My own personal issue with the “standard” pillow box was the inability for it to stand alone, not being able to use decorative trims around the bottom or sides (since they angles would make it crooked!) and for it to hold what I wanted due to the flat angled in side panels too! So problem solved!

(box prior to assembly)

Now another issue I had was the way the side panels folded in, but never stayed closed (unless you used adhesive!).

So, I added another FUN detail…tabs to keep the sides closed, and allow you to easily open either side to get whatever goodness is packaged up in there! NO adhesive needed.

This template comes with the front angles decorative layer, as well as the curvy side panel decorative layers!

This my have a little Pucker to it, but it is certainly the perfect template to package Up something special!

I think you will agree it is! Just in time for summer, this is my own personal favorite collection of images. I love fun and whimsical!

I designed a variety of flowers in various sizes, that can coordinate together with the various stems! It features my favorite flower- the tulip, a dragonfly and a “build a ladybug” image as well! The various antenna can be used on the ladybug, dragonfly or in the tulip centers! You can also use the Polka Dot Ladybug wings and add them to the large tulip flower for a fabulous pattern!

On the green layer I stamped the open line pucker block on the side panel from Puckered Up Patterns. Subtle yet perfect.

I LOVE coordinating new sets with older sets, and with this one I used the butterfly from Just For You, and the swirl from Fanciful Flourishes, stamped in a pale gray color for my flutter trail.

Too fun.

Now we got to clean and simple…..

Cheer Up

To me this is definitely cheery! It would cheer me up on a bad day.

Another combination of sets! This uses the smallest tulip top, and stem from the set as my focal point. The dual color was from using markers 😀 Super easy. The “cheer up” and the ten cents symbol is from the You’ve Got Mail set. Those image blocks from that set would go well with this frame too 😀

I want to share one of the square tags from the Paper Pattern Pieces set, as well as another idea using the ribbon/lace border.

I love the buttons tied to the ribbon/lace borders. Another cute, yet simple detail.

OK one more (for today anyway)

You make me a better person

You know I needed to use purple! My favorite color.

This is a spiral like flower. I love coloring each spiral in 3 shades of the same color. I added adhesive beads and stickles to the centers. This is the other stem that is in the set. As you can see it allows you to layer the variety of petal sizes on it.

Obviously I have favor towards the circular frame 😀 MOST of the sentiments from Sensational Sentiments fit in the circle and square frame, however they all fit in the All Tied Up! cut files 😀

I’ve longed for such a sentiment as this. I think we all have someone in our life that we look up to, brings out the best in us, encourages us, or helps us strive to be the best we can be! For me, that is my husband. He brings out the best in me, and makes me strive to better my best. He is the most amazing person I have ever met! I’m so blessed to have him 😀 (now I need to use this in a masculine card for him! LOL!

Winners for the Day 1 & Day 2 wil be announced later tonight. (I’m actually presposting because its my birthday weekend and I’m spending time with friends and family all weekend, so once I get a spare moment I’ll draw names :D)

As its name suggests, this packaging was designed after the ever popular tool box! One of my most requested gift packaging templates to date! I made sure that the handle portion was perfect and sturdy for this template!

That was the hardest part of it! When you have a template MADE to hold “stuff” it better be able to be picked up without crumbling and warping. Granted when toting 2 planters I’d take caution, but this handle is great!

You can fill this with various cups, and add candy, seed packets, small plants (real and silk!) you can use it to fashionably organize your crafting “tools”, give it as a gift to hold cupcakes, candles, bath products, stationary set, small toys, and so much more!

I used the NEW! Paper Pattern Pieces for my circle tag, and of course the sentiment is from the Sensational Sentiments. I just stamped and cut the flower petals and leaf an additional time for some extra dimension. The flower makes the “t” in the Thank you. I loved that.

The ribbon/lace border is 5 1/2 inches long (perfect for those cards!)

2 Floral Circle patterns/tags about 1 3/4 inches

2 square patterns/tags about 1 3/4

Smaller flower circle 1 1/4 inch

6 circle cluster 1 X 1 1/2 inches

Puckered Up Patterns Set of 14 images $12

In youth

Now we have another card using one of the background builders from the Puckered Up Patterns (as did our Trendy Tool Tote)! You will be amazed at the variety of looks you will be able to “build” with this set!

For this one I used the open line cluster to create my patterned panel.

I then stamped the solid version of the pattern inside.

From there I stamped the smaller solid version of the pattern in the centers to create retro like flowers. These pattern can be masculine or feminine, as you will soon see 😀

Hi everyone! Grab your coffee because I have a TON to share today, and all of it worthy of a good read!

Thank you to all of your for the kinds words and emails about my sharing of my mother’s story. As I said it was so difficult to do, but it has proven to be a positive thing to have shared with others. Quite honestly it was a little rough for my mother, and emotionally set her back a bit, reliving some of what has gone on. Many of you have been able to relate, have been there, or know someone else who has been there or is there. So thank you for allowing me to open up and hopefully help someone else.

Catherine Doucette and I are working on a special stamp set for victims of abuse! I’ll keep you posted! We want some proceeds to go towards the special cause 😀 Details will follow.

I’ve been crazy busy trying to balance my family and work (as you can imagine-and NOTHING went well this month! LOL! Go figure). I think I did a good job somehow pulling it all together, so I hope you all enjoy what I have in store the next 2 weeks!! I was going to get it done if it killed me 😀

Today is day #1 of our release peeks! Our actual release is May 1st.

I am sad to say that Mona Pendleton will be leaving our team after this month. Be sure to wish her well in her endeavors. I wish her the best! She has a full plate, and is focusing her talents elsewhere. While we were miss her, and her very talented hubby Scott (who has helped me on many occasions), I am very happy to say that Silke Ledlow will be joining our amazingly talented line up of fabulous designers! Be sure you check her out! She will begin next month!

Now time for some of our FIRST peeks of what is to come!

As you know the end of the school year is approaching, and it is just about that time to start thinking TEACHER gifts! I hope this release inspires you to get REALLY creative in your end of the year gifts this time! (and even if you don’t have children, you just might still fall in love-and we have some other REALLY cool stuff, so don’t miss it!)

Lesa saw this adorable lunch box and pictured it without the handles as a vintage box to keep notecards in. Pink just speaks softness and beauty. She hand crocheted the matching flowers to go on this one. It would be a perfect gift for someone special. A couple pieces of chocolate added in would be the perfect addition.

This template will really take you back in time, and is sure to put a smile on someones face!

Do you remember those adorable metal lunch boxes we all carried as children? They are absolutely timeless! Well now we have a 3 D version that we can make for all our children, significant other, teachers, boss, co-workers, friends or family!

Now look at the handle details!

ALL CARDSTOCK!!

So no need to find, or purchase ANY expensive metal embellishments! This template has every piece you need to create this Oldie but Goodie Lunch Box in ONE great template! EASY PEASY (as are all our templates :D) Each one COMPLETE with step by step photo instructions.

This is the perfect template to give all sorts of gift in. You can put some notes in there, maybe some school essentials for student or teacher, homemade baked goods (especially for school fundraisers), put in gift cards, candy, stationary, and is even perfect for the office! Gift it to your boss or co-workers (any time of year!) Also perfect for a new grad, off to college, end of year teacher gifts, teacher appreciation, first or last day of school…..make it into some luggage instead! That adds even MORE possibilities.

Whatever you box up in this lunch box, it is a guaranteed you will also be boxing up the feeling of them being special!

I used the rainbow printable image to create my decorative panel on my lunch box. Adding the rainbow was my 5 yo daughter Amber’s idea 😀 So I HAD to do it so I could make HER love notes to tuck in her school bag 😀 (I need to make her one too!)

But think how fun it could be if you just let your kids decorate thier OWN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was able to utilize my photo editing software to digitally COLOR it in for me too!

Do you remember those adorable metal lunch boxes we all carried as children? They are absolutely timeless! Well now I have designed a set with those amazing lunch boxes, with interchangeable patterns and interchangeable sentiments to match! There are even little food additions that fit this theme. You will certainly fall in love with all the punny sentiments.

This set is perfect for sending little notes in their “lunch box”, or for making fun cards, gifts and tags for friends, family, teachers, co-workers, and anyone in between! You now have so many possibilities for sending little love notes to those we care about.

As a child, my mom would always stick a little note in my lunch box, wishing me a good day. In turn I have done the same for my own children and husband. I’ve always longed for such a set that make sending these types of notes or gifts more fun and easier than ever. This set will be one that you pull out over and over again.

Sentiments include:

I’m so proud of you!

A special treat for you to eat

Packed with Love

Sending you hugs and kisses

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

just PEAR-FECT !

I love you bunches!

Hope your day is (to be used in coordination with some of the sentiments)

Just a note to say….. (to be alone or used in coordination with some of the sentiments:)

I am here, as I said I’ve been consumed with family issues, and getting ready for the May Release. I appreciate the comments, and emails.

WARNING: this is a family post, with some graphic detail. Honestly you may not want to read it. It may be disturbing, but the story needs to be told.

It may help someone else in a similar situation.

This last two weeks or so I have told you to keep my mother in your prayers. I’ve respected her privacy. I’ve done everything in my power to empower her, help her, and let her know she ISN’T alone to fight this fight. Believe me, she is truly fighting for her life.

She reads my blog and she has seen the well wishes and prayers. I’ve forwarded emails to her as well. All the while no one really knowing exactly WHAT is going on. Each one giving her strength!

Just to give you an idea of what my family has been dealing with, this was on the front page of the paper in her city.

Now I’m appalled that her address was given, and some of the details shared without any consideration for my mother and her SAFETY! People don’t realize that these aren’t just front page news-makers they are reporting about, but PEOPLE. My mother was beyond the feeling of violation.

As you can imagine that is only a very stripped down version of what has taken place. Words cannot describe the feeling I had when I received a phone call telling me about what happened. I immediately took action and got to my mother’s side.

Her birthday was Thursday April 8th, and on that day she had an “awakening”. All the strength she gave me over the years, to become a strong independent woman, I was finally able to give back to her. Finally able to make her SEE what her life really is, not what she wanted to see. My pleading with her to help herself, finally making sense.

She asked that I actually share her story with you all in hopes that MAYBE it will help someone else.

My husband and I both struggled with sharing this story too. We went back and forth the last few weeks about it. But there needs to be an awareness. These things happen to REAL people. That is someones mother, daughter, sister, grandmother. Also for his family, he is someones son, brother…loved one. It’s so hard and sad on both ends.

Quite honestly I was hesitant. The fact of sharing this is VERY difficult for me, for many reasons. It is emotional, heartbreaking, upsetting, and all the while necessary too. I was overwhelmed at the aspect of it because how do “I” share a story that started YEARS and YEARS ago? Where am I suppose to start?

Well I will do my best to tell it, and pray it helps someone else.

Ever realize your life can change in one single second? The second you meet your soulmate, the second your baby takes its first breath-life altering. There are times when it changes and it is HEART-WRENCHING pain. News that ends a marriage, someone you love has passed away, been hurt, or has an illness. I have experienced all of those in my lifetime. Many all from the ring of a phone. All life altering moments that forever change life as you knew it, in an instant. It is like you cross over a line of forever being changed from one second to the next.

This is my mom.

This was taken Easter Sunday.

She looks so happy.

Doesn’t look like the face of an abused woman does it?

Funny how photos can be. Funny how makeup and a smile can hide what is really going on in someones life.

What our eyes tell us we see. Photos can be altered, or used to tell a “story”, while we have no idea what we “don’t” see. Just like the stars in magazines, things get trimmed, slimmed, covered, altered and edited.

So is this photo.

This is what this photo doesn’t tell you.

Would you believe that this photo of my mom was taken the day after her husband attempted to murder her? Well it was.

What you can’t see is that I had to photo shop this photo-a lot.

You can’t see the lump on her head from him slamming her against the wall, as he pinned her there.

You can’t see all the makeup she has on to cover the bruises on her neck that are from her husband choking her, to the point where she almost passed out.

You can’t hear the words he kept saying to her, as he attacked her, that still play endlessly in her head, “Why! Why do you make me do these things to you! Why couldn’t you just keep your mouth shut!” (that is the nicest of it)

I cropped out her hands, so you can’t see several of the defensive knife wounds that she got from what the court calls a Machete.

You probably can’t tell that this same woman was cowering on the floor, literally begging him to stop, as she was apologzing to him for upsetting him, just to save her life.

You can’t see the 2 phones she tried to grab to call 911, because those are both broken. He smashed them to pieces as she grabbed each one. He did finally hand her his cell phone as he told her ” You want to call the police? I will dial the number for you. But you will be dead before they have time to get here.” (also the nicest of it)

You can’t see the very dark circles under her eyes, from crying with worry over him, after he was arrested for the attempted murder of her.

You can’t see the shame she feels, and the fact that she didn’t want them taking photos of her injured, or to even go to the hospital.

In the police report, in all the photos, you can’t see everything that got broken during their struggle. My mom’s heart, her spirit, even her will to continue life. You can’t see that she too is so broken.

You can’t see why she would feel so bad for him, that she wouldn’t want to press charges.

Or the fact that she hasn’t slept in a week because she is so terrified and can’t stop shaking.

You can’t see that she has low self esteem and feels “unworthy”.

You can’t see WHY she hasn’t seen this coming.

Why she stayed so long, and why she didn’t try to get out sooner.

You can’t see WHY she ever made excuses for him.

You can’t see why she never looked in the mirror, and saw herself as an abused woman, or why she still loves a man who clearly doesn’t even know what love is.

As of late I’ve felt like my mom was drowning. I kept extending my hand, trying to pull her out, and she kept letting it go. I think now she is ready to hold on, to be saved. I think she realizes if she doesn’t hang on, she will drown.

My mother’s husband was always short tempered. No excuses. Drinking, not drinking. She couldn’t really express an opinion, had to watch her tone. Over the years she excluded herself from her family. Made excuses for bruises, or broken things, and that was exhausting. She revolved her world around pleasing someone that couldn’t be pleased.

His violence has gotten progressively worse over the years. More so as of late. This event was bound to take place at some point. Any relationship of violence, always progresses.

By sharing my mother’s story, I hope this helps someone! If you are like her, or know someone like her. It’s not too late to get help.

Facts about acts of violence

Statistics of Battered Women

7% of women (3.9 million) are physically abused by their partners, and 37% (20.7 million) are verbally or emotionally abused.

Every 9 seconds a woman is physically abused by her husband.

95% of assaults on spouses or ex-spouses are committed by men against women.

30% of women presenting with injuries to the emergency department had injuries caused by battering.

From 7% to 26% of pregnant women are abused.

42% of murdered women are killed by their intimate partners.

Within the last year, 7% of American women (3.9 million) who are married or living with someone as a couple were physically abused, and 37% (20.7 million) were verbally or emotionally abused by their spouse or partner. (The Commonwealth Fund, N.Y. 1991)

Every 9 seconds a woman is physically abused by her husband. (The Commonwealth Fund, N.Y. 1991)

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 95% of assaults on spouses or ex-spouses are committed by men against women. (Assessing Violent Couples, H. Douglas, Families in Society, 11/91)

Domestic violence is a repetitive in nature: about 1 in 5 women victimized by their spouse or ex-spouse reported that they had been a victim of a series of at least 3 assaults in the last 6 months. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 10/93)

30% of Women presenting with injuries to the emergency department were identified as having injuries caused by battering. (American Journal of Public Health, 1/89)

Pregnancy is a risk factor. Several studies indicate a range of incidence from 17% to 26% of pregnant women. (Public Health Nursing, 9/87)

If you would like more information about A Safe Place and the programs we provide, please call us at 847-731-7165 or email us at info@asafeplaceforhelp.org.

MURDER

In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner.1 That’s an average of three women every day. Of all the women murdered in the U.S., about one-third were killed by an intimate partner.2

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (Intimate Partner Violence or Battering)

Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.3 According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner-related physical assaults and rapes every year.4 Less than 20 percent of battered women sought medical treatment following an injury.5

I don’t want anyone to become a statistic. My mother almost became one!

She got lucky, that time.

Thank you for letting my share my mother’s story. It isn’t an easy thing to share, but this type of thing really doies happen, and it can be happening to someone YOU love.

I wish I did something sooner to make my mother see what was really going on.

All I can do now is be there for her. My family is rallying around my mom so she knows she isn’t alone.

So thank you for letting me share. This isn’t easy, but I know my blog has been used to touch so many lives through my sharing. I hope it can speak to someone else out there.

Think of all the amazing flowers YOU can make too!! You can even resize the cut files to tailor them to YOUR projects! Endless possibilities.

Also there has been an updated version of SCAL released that should fix the problem many of us were having with our SVG files. Here is a link if you haven’t already downloaded it: http://store.candacraft.com/Page-Download_5.aspx!!

I really want to say thank you to my team for their amazing projects, to all of YOU who have stopped by and left a comment, sent and email, or placed an order 😀 You make my “job” so fun for me to keep doing! I get so inspired and truly run off the excitement you all share with me each day and month after month!

That being said, my family needs my attention the next week or so, so I may be quiet, but I’ll be back shortly. If you can say a prayer for my mom on Monday. We have something important that day that could use your prayers. She just needs peace in her heart, and strength to do all she has to, to make it through some tough things. I would do it for her if I could, and I am doing my best to block the wind from knocking over her sails. I have faith that everything will work out.

Thank you all again for everything, even listening to me “share” what I can.

I know I’ve been cut short this week, but as I said I do have some family responsibilities to tend to with my mother. I don’t want to share too much about my mom, but she still needs me in so many ways right now. We have a lot coming up with her and all I can tell you is that it is very physically and emotionally draining. I am finding the hardest part about owning your own company is the inability to “call in sick” or take some time off! LOL! So I’m running frazzled.

Any-who….let’s just get to the eye-candy!! (I am praying my day goes as planned so I can have my video up for tomorrow!)

Today is the first exclusive project post for our newest design team member Stephanie Kraft

“My friend just had her FOURTH boy, and I figure she needs something SUPER girly to take over all that testosterone, lol. Here’s a little ‘pampering’ gift set just for her…”

I have had some very serious family issues to tend to, and thank you for all the prayers. I have much more to share but due to my need to tend to them I need to keep this brief. My family has to be first.